Richard D'Agostino, Superintendent of Warwick Schools, said this morning that police officers were present at all city schools this morning and that staff have been reminded to ensure that building …
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Richard D'Agostino, Superintendent of Warwick Schools, said this morning that police officers were present at all city schools this morning and that staff have been reminded to ensure that building doors are locked and that visitors are not to be let in without proper identification. He said that a connect-ed message was issued to parents Tuesday at about 6 p.m. informing them that a neighboring police department (it was Johnston) had received an anonymous threat against elementary schools in a number of districts (Warwick, Cranston and Johnston). D'Agostino said, "everybody wants to know what the threat was." He did not disclose the threat, but said it involved "physical harm." D'Agostino said that preliminary attendance totals showed a drop in attendance in elementary schools. A Beacon reporter was at Hoxsie School this morning where attendance was about 50 percent of normal. There was higher absenteeism among young students with only 6 of 24 kindergarten students in attendance. D'Agostino said he was informed there will be a meeting between the police departments of Warwick, Cranston and Johnston today. In the meanwhile he said outdoor recess at elementary schools has been suspended for the remainder of the week. He did not know whether the Interscholastic League would alter its schedule because of the situation.
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maggie123
I think a lot more parents would have sent their kids to school today if they knew the threat involved beheading. I think most feared gun violence or bombs which locked doors would not ensure safety. Guns and bombs penetrate windows and doors. Beheadings involve personal contact. At this point I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the threat said heads are going to roll. Information gives parents power, the power to decide what to talk to their children about and what steps they feel necessary to send their children to school or not to school. Knowledge is power and it appears that the powers to be...did not give the public the necessary information before school today.I hope they learn from this
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 Report this
warwick10
With all the violence /shootings in the schools around the country, everyday I worry about sending my children to school. Because a letter was sent, suddenly there was panic. My kids said they would be finIe, saying there are precautions, drills, lockdf owns practiced and feel safe at
school. If thee is going to be another school shooting, I doubt there will be a warning letter...so we need to keep these safety precautions in place, indefinitely.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 Report this